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Sharing Abstracts,Notes on various Electrical Engineering Topics.

What is Fixture’s Beam Angle & Beam Diameter (Part-1)

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Introduction:

Lamps are available with multiple beam angle options hence Beam angle is an important factor in
lighting design.
The beam angle is the width of light that is emanated from the bulb and it is measured in degreesand
can vary according to the different styles of bulbs.
The beam angle of the Light is mainly depend ceiling height or distance of an object from the light
source, and the lux level (brightness) which is required for a particular object or floor area.

Light Terminology

Lumens:

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Lumen is the total amount of light emiĴed by that lamp in all directions.
The luminous flux (Lumen) is provided by lamp manufacturers and common lumen values are
included on the lamp.

Lux:

It is amount of illumination intensity in specified direction of specified area.

Lumen is related to lux. one lux is one lumen per square meter.
1 lux = 1 lumen/m²
Lux is simply the amount of lumens in a specified area.

Lux is measured on a distance of 1 or 10 meters.

Difference between Lumen and Lux:

The difference between the lumen and lux is that the lux takes into account the area over which the
luminous flux (Lumen) is spread.
A flux of 1000 lumens, concentrated into an area of 1 square meter lights with a luminance of 1000
lux.
The same 1000 lumens, spread out over 10 square meters, produces a dimmer illuminance of only100
lux.
Mathematically, 1 lux = 1 lm/m2.
Lumens are measured in all directions from the light source. This is not the best measurement to
describe how bright a light is going to be on a specific area.
To perfect describe How much lights going to on Specified area ,luminance lux or foot-candle are
used.
Lux changes according to beam angle and height

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Difference between Beam Angle, Field Angle and Cut

off Angle:

Beam Angle:

The beam angle is the degree of widththat light emits from a light source.
Beam Angle is the angle of the light between two points of 50% of Maximum intensity.
It helpful in knowing how much “usable” light the fixture puts out in a fairly even field.

Field angle:

It is the angle between the two directions opposed to each other over the beam axis for which the
luminous intensity is 10% that of the maximum luminous intensity.
In certain fields of applications the field angle was formerly called beam angle.
This angle tells you how far the light reaches until it (basically) fades into the darkness.

Cut off Angle:

This the angle which encompasses all forward light emiĴed by the directional lamp.

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Relation between Beam Angle and Filed Angle:

The Beam and Field Angles determine how a spot light lights the surrounding area.
Normally, the field angle should be 180 degrees, because that creates a softer transition at the edge of
the beam angle.
If we change the default field angle to 180 to 75 this should give beĴer results and it tighter angle,
then over rider it.

Selecting Beam Angle for various Applications:

Beam angle is an important factor in lighting design and Lamps are often available with multiple
beam angle options.
The beam angle of the Light we choose is determined initially by the ceiling height or distance of an
object from the light source, and the lux level (brightness) that is required for a particular object or
floor area.

Smaller beam angles (25° to 45° degrees):

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It will produce a more focused beam of higher intensity and are more suited to spot lighting in
commercial or artistic applications.
Buildings with very high ceilings of 3m or greater may also benefit from more focused beam angles.

Medium beam angle (40 degrees):

This is a medium spread beam that offers a good combination of intensity and coverage.

Wider beam angles (60 degrees):

Very popular for Down lights. A 60 degree beam can be used more effectively in larger rooms.
Although the wider beam spread doesn’t provide more light, it does spread the light out further. If
we need higher brightness, higher lumen output down lights will be required as a down lights for a
good level of uniformity.

Larger beam angles (60° to 135° degrees):

It will produce a broader beam suited for most residential applications or ambient lighting in
commercial applications.
They are also useful in lower ceiling applications (< 3m). Whereas a 45° beam spread may be more
useful in higher ceiling applications or for corridor lighting.
A bulb with a wide beam angle ensures to get a really clear, even light.
The spread of light makes no dark areas in the room; and can allow you to use fewer bulbs.

Very Larger beam angles (120° degrees):

LED light bulbs of 120° or greater are used in high light dispersion applications in place of traditional
incandescent or CFL light bulbs or T5, T8 and T12 fluorescent tubes. While 60° to 90° LED light bulbs
are more common halogen down light replacements.

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Various Beam Angle as per Applications

(MR Type) (PAR Type)

Descriptions Applications
Flood Light Spot Light
Highlight a small statue or figure on
<7° <15° Very Narrow Spot display in a museum or in a jewelry
store to make diamonds “pop.”
Special or sale item or in landscape
5° to 15° 15° to 30° Narrow spot bullets illuminating a sign or garden
feature.
Used in stores to highlight a special or
16° to 22° 30° to 60° spot sale area or outdoors to illuminate an
architectural feature.
highlight a display table, while homes
23° to 32° 60° to 90° Narrow flood might use this bulb in recessed eyeball
lights to illuminate a painting
Pendant lights in coffee shops to
32° to 45° 90° to 120° flood
recessed lights in living rooms.
Common in many general illumination
applications from motion-sensing
45° to 60° 120° to 160° Wide flood lights above garage doors to recessed
cans in auditoriums and movie
theaters.
used to illuminate withouthighlighting
any particular object or area. They’re
>60° >160° Very wide flood
good options for outdoor flood lighting
and low-ceiling recessed lights.

Ceiling Height and Beam angle

Ceiling Height Beam Angle

2.5 to 3.5 meters 60° beam angle
3.5 to 4.5 meters 38° or 40° beam angle
5 meters 24° to 30° beam angle
FILED UNDER UNCATEGORIZED

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